under
1 of 3adverb
un·der ˈən-dər 
1
: in or into a position below or beneath something
2
: below or short of some quantity, level, or limit
$10 or under
—often used in combination understaffed
3
: in or into a condition of subjection, subordination, or unconsciousness
put the patient under for surgery
4
: down to defeat, ruin, or death
weaker competitors will be forced under
5
: so as to be covered
buried under by the avalanche
under
2 of 3preposition
1
: below or beneath so as to be overhung, surmounted, covered, protected, or concealed by
under sunny skies
a soft heart under a stern exterior
under cover of darkness
2
a
: subject to the authority, control, guidance, or instruction of
served under the general
under the terms of the contract
a program that runs under any operating system
b
: receiving or undergoing the action or effect of
under pressure
courage under fire
under the influence of alcohol
the image of a point under a mapping
under oath
3
a
: within the group or designation of
under this heading
b
: having as name or title
traveling under an alias
4
: less or lower than (as in size, amount, or rank)
especially : falling short of a standard or required degree
under the legal age
under par
under
3 of 3adjective
1
a
: lying or placed below, beneath, or on the ventral side —often used in combination
the ocean's undercurrentsthe underside of a car
b
: facing or protruding downward —often used in combination
the undersurface of a leaf
2
: lower in rank or authority : subordinate —often used in combination
the undersecretary of defense
3
: lower than usual, proper, or desired in amount, quality, or degree —often used in combination
undernourished children
Synonyms
Adverb
- below
- beneath
- underneath
Preposition
- below
- beneath
- neath [dialect]
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adverb Pull the bed sheets tight then fold the ends under. He turned under his shirt's collar. The whale surfaced briefly then dove under again. The bridge was too low for the ship to sail under. A score of 60 is needed to pass; anything under is failing. They had to put me under for surgery. Preposition They couldn't climb over the wall, so they dug a hole under it. Draw a line under each word you don't know. We sat under a tree and rested a while. I'm wearing a sweater under my jacket. The ball rolled under the car. How long can you hold your breath under water? The cafe is under new management. The army captured three forts while under the general's command. He has been under a lot of pressure at work lately. You will be under anesthesia during the operation. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 7 Feb. 2023 Moms were over-worked and under-appreciated even before the pandemic laid bare the need to reevaluate family life. —People Staff, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023 The exceedingly modest salaries of hard-working and under-appreciated officers make understandable their efforts to supplement income. —Robert Steinbuch, Arkansas Online, 8 Jan. 2023 The total has gone under in four of New England’s last five games against Miami, and five of New England’s last six games at home. —Christopher Price, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Jan. 2023 The film was a hit at the London Film Festival but was misunderstood and under-appreciated by studio execs. —Carmel Dagan, Variety, 20 Dec. 2022 The debate has intensified in recent years as record numbers of migrants have arrived along the southern border, overwhelming an understaffed and under-resourced system. —CBS News, 24 Jan. 2023 The community faces a tough duality—ignored and under-resourced as a model minority, yet perceived as a threat and perpetual outsiders. —Byellen Mcgirt, Fortune, 24 Jan. 2023 And unlike state and federal prisons, the obligations for providing long-term health care in local jails is murky and under-resourced. —Kim Bellware, Washington Post, 14 Jan. 2023 Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 16 Feb. 2023 State emergency preparedness officials receive prior notice of some hazmat movements under federal emergency and homeland security rules. —Luz Lazo, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Feb. 2023 Instead, City had persuaded the judges that a majority of the case was time barred under UEFA’s own rules. —Tariq Panja, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2023 But nothing about my childhood in private was legal under the rule of the Islamic Republic. —Tara Grammy, Harper's BAZAAR, 15 Feb. 2023 At least a dozen companies, including the tech conglomerates Tencent and Alibaba, search giant Baidu, and food delivery company Meituan were investigated and fined under anti-monopoly rules. —WIRED, 14 Feb. 2023 The most identifiable aspect involves this hidden universe chafing under the rule of a being so powerful that its occupants exhibit a Voldemort-like reluctance to even speak his name, that being Kang the Conqueror, played by Jonathan Majors. —Brian Lowry, CNN, 14 Feb. 2023 The intent was to relay a tale about an everyman — in Zelensky’s case, a Ukrainian, Russian-speaking Jew born under Soviet rule in the late 1970s — who finds himself at the helm of a fledgling democratic nation burning to embrace freedom. —Malina Saval, Variety, 13 Feb. 2023 The reasoning: federal governments issued the carbon credits under rules set by the Paris Agreement, giving them credibility and driving up prices. —Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023 Kevin Cortez, Popular Mechanics, 9 Feb. 2023 Choose from these options for an under-desk exercise bike to keep you moving on the daily. —Amy Schlinger, Men's Health, 25 Jan. 2023 The main selfie camera dealt with this extreme HDR situation much better, while the under-display camera struggled with exposure. —PCMAG, 11 Aug. 2022 From laptop risers and an under-desk elliptical to posture-correcting seat cushions and more, see our top picks below. —Nicole Charky-chami, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 May 2022 Bet the under as the Bruins will smother the Ducks on the outside and keep the score low. —Ian Firstenberg, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2023 Those who can't fit a full workout into their day can still stay active with an under-desk exerciser. —Sara Coughlin, SELF, 9 Jan. 2023 If your desk is in need of a more serious makeover, consider adding a standing desk converter or even an under-desk elliptical. —Olivia Lipski, Good Housekeeping, 8 Aug. 2022 Back the Cavaliers on the moneyline here and look for an under bet. —Ian Firstenberg, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2023 See More
Adverb
Tickets are $875 a pop for adults and $499 for kids 15 and under. —Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 7 Feb. 2023 Moms were over-worked and under-appreciated even before the pandemic laid bare the need to reevaluate family life. —People Staff, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023 The exceedingly modest salaries of hard-working and under-appreciated officers make understandable their efforts to supplement income. —Robert Steinbuch, Arkansas Online, 8 Jan. 2023 The total has gone under in four of New England’s last five games against Miami, and five of New England’s last six games at home. —Christopher Price, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Jan. 2023 The film was a hit at the London Film Festival but was misunderstood and under-appreciated by studio execs. —Carmel Dagan, Variety, 20 Dec. 2022 The debate has intensified in recent years as record numbers of migrants have arrived along the southern border, overwhelming an understaffed and under-resourced system. —CBS News, 24 Jan. 2023 The community faces a tough duality—ignored and under-resourced as a model minority, yet perceived as a threat and perpetual outsiders. —Byellen Mcgirt, Fortune, 24 Jan. 2023 And unlike state and federal prisons, the obligations for providing long-term health care in local jails is murky and under-resourced. —Kim Bellware, Washington Post, 14 Jan. 2023 Preposition
As the season progresses, find out which celebrities are hidden under the masks as each contestant is sent home each week. —Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 16 Feb. 2023 State emergency preparedness officials receive prior notice of some hazmat movements under federal emergency and homeland security rules. —Luz Lazo, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Feb. 2023 Instead, City had persuaded the judges that a majority of the case was time barred under UEFA’s own rules. —Tariq Panja, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2023 But nothing about my childhood in private was legal under the rule of the Islamic Republic. —Tara Grammy, Harper's BAZAAR, 15 Feb. 2023 At least a dozen companies, including the tech conglomerates Tencent and Alibaba, search giant Baidu, and food delivery company Meituan were investigated and fined under anti-monopoly rules. —WIRED, 14 Feb. 2023 The most identifiable aspect involves this hidden universe chafing under the rule of a being so powerful that its occupants exhibit a Voldemort-like reluctance to even speak his name, that being Kang the Conqueror, played by Jonathan Majors. —Brian Lowry, CNN, 14 Feb. 2023 The intent was to relay a tale about an everyman — in Zelensky’s case, a Ukrainian, Russian-speaking Jew born under Soviet rule in the late 1970s — who finds himself at the helm of a fledgling democratic nation burning to embrace freedom. —Malina Saval, Variety, 13 Feb. 2023 The reasoning: federal governments issued the carbon credits under rules set by the Paris Agreement, giving them credibility and driving up prices. —Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023 Adjective
Miller says a rubberized non-slip bottom on a machine may not hold an under-desk pedaler in place. —Kevin Cortez, Popular Mechanics, 9 Feb. 2023 Choose from these options for an under-desk exercise bike to keep you moving on the daily. —Amy Schlinger, Men's Health, 25 Jan. 2023 The main selfie camera dealt with this extreme HDR situation much better, while the under-display camera struggled with exposure. —PCMAG, 11 Aug. 2022 From laptop risers and an under-desk elliptical to posture-correcting seat cushions and more, see our top picks below. —Nicole Charky-chami, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 May 2022 Bet the under as the Bruins will smother the Ducks on the outside and keep the score low. —Ian Firstenberg, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2023 Those who can't fit a full workout into their day can still stay active with an under-desk exerciser. —Sara Coughlin, SELF, 9 Jan. 2023 If your desk is in need of a more serious makeover, consider adding a standing desk converter or even an under-desk elliptical. —Olivia Lipski, Good Housekeeping, 8 Aug. 2022 Back the Cavaliers on the moneyline here and look for an under bet. —Ian Firstenberg, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2023 See More Word History
Etymology
Adverb
Middle English, adverb & preposition, from Old English; akin to Old High German untar under, Latin inferus situated beneath, lower, infra below, Sanskrit adha
First Known Use
Adverb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Preposition
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing under
Kids Definition
under
1 of 3 adverb un·der ˈən-dər
1
: in or into a position below or beneath something
the duck surfaced, then went under again
2
: below some quantity, level, or average
ten dollars or under
—often used in combination underplayed the part
3
: in or into a losing, lower, or unconscious state or condition
kept my disappointment under
put the patient under for surgery
4
: so as to be covered or hidden
turned under by the plow
under
2 of 3 preposition un·der
ˌən-dər,
ˈən-
1
: below or beneath and topped or sheltered by
under sunny skies
under a tree
wearing a sweater under my jacket
2
a
: bound by the authority or guidance of
served under the general
b
: affected or influenced by the action or result of
the disease is under treatment
3
: within the group or division of
under this heading
4
a
: less or lower than (as in size, amount, or rank)
all masses under 90 kilograms
nobody under a colonel
b
: below the required level of
under legal age
under
3 of 3 adjective un·der
ˈən-dər
1
a
: lying or placed below —often used in combination
the sea's undercurrentsthe underside of a car
b
: facing or bulging downward —often used in combination
the undersurface of a leaf
2
: lower in position or authority : subordinate —often used in combination
the undersecretary of defense
3
: lower than usual, proper, or desired in amount or quality —often used in combination
undernourished children
Medical Definition
under
1 of 3 adverb un·der ˈən-dər
: in or into a condition of unconsciousness
put the patient under prior to surgery
under
2 of 3 preposition : receiving or using the action or application of
an operation performed under local anesthesia
under
3 of 3 adjective : being in an induced state of unconsciousness
given intravenously when the patient is under—C. A. Birch
C. A. Birchunder 1 of 3
preposition
as in beneath
in a lower position than the cat is hiding under the bed Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- beneath
- underneath
- neath
- below
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- over
- above
under
2 of 3adverb
as in underneath
in or to a lower place crouch down under where they won't see you Synonyms & Similar Words
- underneath
- beneath
- below
- beside
- near
- nearby
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- up
- overhead
- aloft
under
3 of 3adjective
as in below
Synonyms & Similar Words
- below
- lower
- bottom
- lowly
- nether
- undermost
- lowermost
- lowered
- low-grade
- nethermost
- low
- bottommost
- sunken
- rock-bottom
- low-lying
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- top
- highest
- uppermost
- topmost
- upper
- higher
- loftiest
- lifted
- loftier
- elevated
- upmost
- raised
- heightened
- uplifted
- upraised
- escalated
- jacked (up)